RIS: Research & Instruction Services

RIS empowers UNF students, faculty, and staff by supporting the development of strong, research-driven skills for academic success and lifelong professional growth. 

Research and Instruction Librarians can help you:  

• Navigate scholarly databases and academic search engines with confidence, enabling you to effectively locate high-quality academic sources for coursework, research assignments and capstone projects. 
• Identify and access authoritative sources within your field of study, helping you to build a strong foundation of credible research that meets academic and professional standards. 
• Implement search strategies and techniques, allowing you to use time efficiently and uncover relevant literature for your research projects. 
• Critically evaluate sources for credibility and relevance to make informed decisions when selecting sources for your academic work. 
• Accurately cite sources using appropriate style guides to ensure academic integrity and avoid plagiarism. Apply style guidelines consistently across your work, and effectively use citation management tools. 
• Engage in personalized research consultations, providing you an opportunity to refine your research approach and skills with expert guidance. 

Looking to strengthen your research? Our personalized research consultations, interactive workshops, and easy-to-use learning resources are here to help you succeed in your studies and build your academic skills. Visit our Services section to learn more about how we can help! 

Dan obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Digital Enterprise Management from the University of Toronto. He then went on to complete a Master of Information in Library and Information Science at the University of Toronto in 2023. 

Dan is dedicated to empowering students in their research journey, helping them navigate the complex information landscape with confidence. Passionate about information literacy, user experience, open access, and inclusive spaces, he empowers learners with the skills to think critically, evaluate sources, and conduct meaningful research. 

With a strong background in both librarianship and higher education, he has worked alongside students and faculty to enhance research skills, providing tailored support and access to essential resources. Drawing on his experience, he continues to advance core library services while fostering an engaging and inclusive learning environment that empowers the academic community to thrive.  

To schedule a consultation with Dan, please use the Book a Research Consultation form. 

Contact Dan: dan.lota@unfc.ca 

Location: Lake Erie Library 

Sam obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and Minor in English Literature from the University of Waterloo in 2012 and went on to complete a Master of Library and Information Studies degree at Dalhousie University in 2014.  

Passionate about open access, information literacy, and exploring digital tools, she aims to create meaningful learning experiences that help people connect with and make sense of data. Sam is committed to supporting information literacy and resource development to transform how researchers engage with and share knowledge.  

With experience working alongside students, researchers, and scholars from diverse disciplines, she recognizes the importance of developing research skills that bridge the gap from academic learning to professional practice. 

To schedule a consultation with Sam, please use the Book a Research Consultation form. 

Contact Sam: sam.fritz@unfc.ca 

Location: Lake Erie Library 

At the UNF library, we are dedicated to enhancing information literacy by teaching you how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically. We focus on developing your critical thinking skills, helping you assess information for credibility, relevance, and accuracy, ensuring you approach research with confidence and clarity.  

• Refine research topics and develop strong research questions 
• Developing effective search strategies 
  • How to brainstorm keywords and use search operators (Boolean, phrase search, truncation) 
• Understanding your research needs to select appropriate resources 
• Understand the types of sources and information 
  • Scholarly (+ peer review), popular, trade 
  • Primary, secondary and tertiary  
• Finding sources (books, journals, datasets) 
• Evaluating sources and information for credibility, relevance, accuracy 
• Citing and referencing: 
  • Format using style guidelines 
  • How to create in-text citations and references 
  • Citation management tools (e.g., Zotero) 

Research Consultations

Meet with a librarian for personalized and in-depth guidance. Research consultations help you succeed in your research projects and assignments by equipping you with the skills needed for academic success.  

We can help address questions and challenges you face when conducting research, such as:  

• Developing effective search strategies 
• Navigating databases 
• Finding and evaluating sources 
• Applying style guides to accurately cite sources 

Learn more about what to expect from a Research Consultation and how to prepare!

Research Skills Sessions and Workshops

We offer interactive, hands-on sessions that support your research needs to effectively complete assignments and projects. We focus on developing and enhancing your skills in information literacy, research, and critical thinking, which are essential for academic success and lifelong professional growth.  

Our teaching covers a variety of research and information-literacy topics, including:  

• Differentiating Popular vs. Scholarly Sources 
• Navigating Academic Databases and OERs 
• Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles 
• Critically Evaluating Sources

Sessions are available in-person or online.  

UNF Faculty can request a Research Skills Session through our Faculty Resources page. 

Learning Resources

Access our suite of digital learning resources, created by UNF librarians, including research guides, video tutorials, infographic, and worksheets. These resources are designed to help you build your research skills at your own pace, making it easier for you to confidently find, analyze, and make sense of information. 

We partner with students and faculty to tackle research challenges, enhance critical thinking, and provide practical support to help you succeed in your academic studies and professional careers. 

We empower UNF students and faculty to tackle research challenges with confidence, providing expert guidance, proven strategies, and practical tips to enhance their research abilities. 

You can choose to have your consultation:

• In-person - we will meet you at the service desk in the UNF library. 
• Online - the MS Teams link will be provided in the confirmation email. 

Book a research consultation by using our online booking form. 

Research consultations are scheduled 50-minute meetings with a librarian for personalized research support. 

We look forward to helping you reach your research goals!  

• During research consultations, we can provide guidance on:  
• Refining research topics and developing effective research questions   
• Understanding your research needs  
• Accessing, navigating, and using specific research databases    
• Identifying keywords to build effective searches     
• Appling search strategies, techniques, and tips    
• Critically evaluating sources to decide if they are reliable, trustworthy, and relevant    
• Using style guidelines to apply formatting rules and accurately cite sources. This ensures that you credit original authors, avoid plagiarism, and strengthen the credibility of your academic work. 

To make the most of your consultation time, be prepared to discuss direct questions or challenges related to your research.  

This session is designed to offer research guidance based on the work you have already done, helping you move forward with clarity and confidence. Students are expected to have understood assignment requirements and done initial brainstorming before the consultation. 

Bring as many of the following items as you can to your consultation, being prepared helps us make the most of our time together while giving you the support you need:

• Steps you have taken in your research so far, which might include: 
  • Search terms you have used 
  • Sources you have found 
  • Notes, rough drafts, or outlines 
• Assignment description and requirements provided by your instructor 
• Any specific research challenges or obstacles you are experiencing 
• General questions you have about research, citing, and referencing 

Whether you're just getting started or looking for ongoing guidance, we offer consultations Monday to Friday to ensure you have regular access to the research support you need.  

Consultations tend to fill up quickly, so we recommend booking early to secure the support you need ahead of your deadlines. 

You can book as many consultations as you need, whether they are for the same question or new ones. After your consultation, feel free to rebook if you need further assistance, we would be happy to see you again and continue supporting your progress.  

Consultations are for UNF students, faculty, and staff. They are primarily for individual assistance.

However, research support for small groups working on a group assignment is available—please request it through the research consultation booking form.

• By booking a consultation, registering for a workshop, or attending a Research Skills session, students agree to behave professionally, respectfully, and attentively.  
• Librarians reserve the right to end consultations if behaviour is deemed disrespectful or inappropriate. 

Our guidelines ensure everyone is provided with fair access to RIS, and consultation time is used effectively.  

Booking Your Consultation 

• A consultation must be booked at least one-hour before your timeslot 
• When booking, provide details to help us prepare for the consultation 
• Book your consultation in advance of your assignment deadlines to give yourself enough time to apply any research strategies you learn from us 
• We do not allow back-to-back sessions to ensure you have time to reflect and apply our guidance before booking your next appointment.

Late Arrivals, No-Shows and Cancellations 

We understand that things can come up, but we ask that you follow our late and cancellation guidelines to ensure smooth scheduling for all students.  

• Late Arrivals: If you are more than 10 minutes late for a consultation, your appointment may be cancelled. The librarian will determine if there’s enough time to proceed with the appointment. 
• No-Show: if you miss an appointment without requesting a cancellation, it will be marked as a “no-show”. After three missed appointments, your scheduling privileges will be suspended, and you will need to contact the library at library@unfc.ca to discuss options for future bookings.  
• Cancelling a Consultation: If you cannot attend your consultation, please cancel directly through the appointment confirmation email. If you are unable to access the cancellation link, please email us directly at library@unfc.ca. 

While we are dedicated to supporting your research and information needs, there are some areas where our assistance is limited: 

• Conducting Research: We can guide you in finding and evaluating sources, but we cannot conduct research on your behalf or complete assignments for you. 
• Creating Citations and References: We can help you understand citation style guidelines and structure, but we do not create, verify, or proofread citations or references. 
• Reading and Writing: We recognize strong writing and communication skills are important for academic success. The Writing Centre provides expert support for developing arguments, structuring essays, improving reading comprehension, and enhancing overall academic writing abilities. 
• Technical Support for Software: For technical issues with software or university applications (i.e. Student Portal, cascade) please email UNF IT at support@myunfc.ca.

We provide tailored information literacy and research skills instruction that complements your teaching while enhancing student learning. In collaboration with faculty, we design sessions aligned with your learning outcomes to help students build the research skills they need to successfully complete assignments and grow as confident, independent researchers. 

Please use the Request a Research Skills Session form to book a Librarian into your class. 

We are here to support your research with personalized guidance and our expertise. Book a Research Consultation for one-on-one consultations, tailored to your research needs.  

The Library is a dynamic collection of resources - and we want to know what resources you think we should add to our collection! You may also want the UNF Library to purchase an eBook for your course.  

Please use the Request a Purchase form to request an eBook, ejournal, OER, or database. 

• Guide to Searching the Library Collection: Faculty Edition 
• How to Find Resources workflow 

Our research guides are created to support your academic success, whether you are beginning the research process, deepening your understanding of course material, or strengthening research skills. 

These guides are part of our growing suite of digital learning resources, designed to help you approach your academic and professional research with clarity, purpose, and a critical mind-set. 

Featured Research Guides: 

• Research Skills:  Research skills are the ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. This guide helps students develop these skills to navigate library resources, locate credible sources, and conduct efficient research.  
• APA Citation:  This guide provides an overview of key APA 7th formatting rules, including citation guidelines, reference list formatting, and general document structure.  
• Open Educational Resources (OERs):  Access free, high-quality learning materials, including textbooks, case studies, and multimedia resources, covering a wide range of academic disciplines and topics. 

Guides are added and updated regularly.  

For a comprehensive list of all available research guides, visit our guides homepage.